Presentation on theme: "The Coolest Person I Know: A 5-paragraph essay"— Presentation transcript:

3 Brainstorm firstCome up with your details – the meat of your thinking.Do it first – this will tell you whether you have enough material to write the essay.It’s too hard to think of details when you’re trying to think about making a good sentence.Know your topic sentences BEFORE you begin writing the essay.

4 The Introduction Begins with an attention-grabberAttention grabber can be more than one sentence.Focuses attention from attention grabber to thesis (a transition)Last sentence of introduction is thesis

5 The Attention Grabber Ideas for attention grabbers:A startling statementA small story (anecdote)A quoteA factAn interesting observationConsider beginning by discussing your theme rather than your specific textMake your attention grabber more than one sentence – it takes the pressure off

6 The Thesis For a 5-paragraph essayBuild the thesis out of your topic sentences.Mention all three topic sentence ideas in your thesis.Write it before you begin your essay.You can rework it later to make it blend with the rest of your introduction.Doing it before helps you focus your introduction.

7 Supporting ParagraphsEach one begins with a topic sentenceThe topic sentences state the main ideas of the paragraph – they mention all the ideas that are coming!They also help make the transition from the paragraph before it.Filled with details related to the topic sentence - that support/defend the claimFinishes with a clincher statement, leaving reader with a reminder of the paragraph’s point

8 Concluding Paragraph Always begins with the thesis statementCan be worded slightly differently than the first timeGo ahead – cut and paste it in the conclusionReminds reader about the main pointsThis is often a recasting of the clincher sentencesLeaves reader with a thought to ponderThis is the final statement of the essayWorks well if this relates to the attention grabber at the beginning